Correlation analysis between insomnia symptoms and language function in patients with schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder often accompanied by various comorbidities.
• Sleep disturbances, particularly insomnia, are frequently reported in individuals with schizophrenia.
• The impact of insomnia on specific cognitive functions like language ability in schizophrenia requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between insomnia and language ability in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.
• To compare the verbal fluency of schizophrenia patients with and without insomnia symptoms.

Main Methods:

• 120 schizophrenia patients were divided into an insomnia group (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score > 10) and a non-insomnia group (score ≤ 10).
• Verbal fluency tests (VFT), including animal, fruit/vegetable naming, speech, and motor fluency, were administered.
• Statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were used to determine correlations.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in age, gender, or education were found between the groups.
• The insomnia group exhibited significantly lower total verbal fluency scores compared to the non-insomnia group (P < 0.01).
• Logistic regression revealed a negative correlation between verbal fluency and insomnia symptoms (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Schizophrenia patients with insomnia symptoms demonstrate significantly impaired language ability.
• Insomnia may increase the likelihood of language disorders in individuals with schizophrenia.